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Annoyance is what I feel right now. What did I do to his mother in the thirty seconds she was around me? It’s as if she saw through me, the kid that came from poverty. Is she so quick to judgment? And what the fuck was up with this Uncle Jim who isn’t really Noah’s uncle. Noah has built up my confidence, by accepting me for who I am. In the past two hours, it’s been stripped to the bare minimum. I find I don’t want to be here anymore and send him a text.
Me:Babe. What’s going on? I think I may take an Uber back to your place.
He’d given me a key a couple weeks ago, hopeful it would lead to me moving in. Noah and I fit well together. If his mother doesn’t like me, tough shit. His reply comes through immediately.
Noah:No, wait for me. Sorry. I’m on my way down.
I stand to meet him in the foyer on the other side of the door, with a clear view to the upstairs.
Noah walks out of a bedroom I assume is his mother’s, but his Uncle Jim is standing next to him and disappears inside after they speak.
Noah trots down the steps, and he gives me a roll of his eyes, but wraps his arms around me, bringing me close into his embrace. “Did you eat?” he asks.
“Yeah, I did. Why don’t you go get a bite? Your brother is cooking more.”
He shakes his head. “Nah, let’s get out of here.” It’s as if he senses how uncomfortable I’ve become in his house. He wraps his arm around my shoulder, crossing the street to get to his car.
“This has been the weirdest day. I mean…”
I cut him off when we slide into his leather seats. “I don’t care if your mom doesn’t like me. It was obvious. But, please don’t lie to me, and tell meshe does like me. I can’t handle it.”
He closes his eyes, dropping his head against the head rest. “I don’t know what happened with my mom. It wasn’t you, but something bothered her. She took a sleeping pill and was out, with a house full of people. My dad was sharing some stuff my mom’s been dealing with, lack of sleep, along with other things. He’d pleaded with her to postpone this year’s barbeque. And I stayed longer because my dad needed a listening ear.”
I don’t mention that she seemed fine until she saw me. It bothers me. It shouldn’t because she won’t drive a wedge between Noah and me. We’re too strong for her to break us up.
* * *
“So,what’s the story with Devin, Lainey, and Collin?” he asks in between the two classes. We’ve been teaching together for a couple weeks. Each time the kids hang out with us before or after class and Noah’s become as fond of them as I am. As always, I pawn off food to Devin, this week claiming a nut allergy for one of my roommates. Lainey loves peanut-butter-stuffed pretzels, and Collin can’t get enough of the grape Uncrustable sandwiches.
“They have had a bad lot in life because they have shitty parents. He has strict orders to come to me if their heat or water get turned off.”
I begin to walk past him, and Noah gently tugs me back into his space. “What? You’re paying their utilities?”
“I have a couple times.”
“But money is tight for you,” he counters.
He sits down, moving my body in between his open legs, and I drop my forehead to his. “I love you that you’re concerned for me, but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make, for those kids.”
“Fuck, I love you, Ashton Michael Brooks.” There’s a pause, and I wait for it. I know it’s coming. “But, next time, will you come to me, let me help too?”
“And,” I begin, “that is why I love you. And yes, I’ll come to you.” At the end of the day, my priority is these kids getting the help they need.
Lainey comes running into class, the breath of fresh air she is. “Are you ready to get your paint on today?” she asks.
Devin and Collin are never too far from her. “She’s so full of energy, and honestly exhausting from day to day.” Collin’s dry humor makes us all laugh, and Lainey breaks into her pretzels while Collin eats two PB&J sandwiches. Noah’s affection for these kids is growing each time we’re near them, and it’s beautiful to watch.
24
Ashton
I’m stayingthe entire week leading up to my premiere with Noah. It’s a trial run, as he calls it. He’s giving me a picture of what living together will look like. Tonight, I love the picture very much.
He has me tied to the bed. He’s not using handcuffs but rope, and from years on his dad’s boat, he knows how to tie knots very well.
We’ve played a little here and there, but his kinks are being further revealed to me each time we’re together, and I’m all in.
He doesn’t have my legs tied. He likes them in the air, along with my ass, for when he’s ready to push inside of me.
